Display-rack



E. ALTMAN. DISPLAY RACK.

(N0 Modgl.)

No. 476,029. Patented May 31, 1892.

lfiVenfar. W

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL ALTMAN, OF NEWV HAVEN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO F. H. ALLIS, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

DISPLAY-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,029, dated May 31, 1892.

Application filed June 29, 1891.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL ALTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in display-racks; and the objects of my improvement are simplicity and eheapness of construction, general convenience in use, and in particular to provide an improved holder for an advertising-card.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my displayrack on a reduced scale. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same on the same scale, a portion of the hooks being omitted. Fig. 3 is a detached side elevation of aportion thereof on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 5 is a detached perspective View of one of the hooks.

A designates a frame formed of a flat band, preferably in the form of a ring or hoop, and B designates an upper frame, the two being provided with suspension chains or cords 6 for suspending said frames to a spiral spring 0, the upper end of which spring may be hung upon any suitable overhead support, and preferably at an elevation that Will hold the rack and goods displayed thereon up out of the way. These two frames A B are at tached to the chains or cords so as to separate them somewhat, as shown in Fig. 1, the separation being greater or less, as may be desired. As shown, these frames are of the same shape and size, and one frame is immediately over the other.

Upon the main frame A, I secure a series of hooks 7, the same being formed of wire bent upon itself with the wire in the shanks separated and formed into smaller hooks 8 for hooking upon the upper edge of the band that forms the frameA. These hooks are for the purpose of receivingthe articles which it is desired to hang upon the frame to display for sale. Ialso form, preferably of wire, several vertical spring-clasps or card-holders 9 and secure them to the frame A With their upper ends projecting above said frame. These hooks and clasps may be secured to said frame by soldering or otherwise; but

Serial No. 397,761. (No model.)

when the hooks are constructed as described and slipped upon the upper edge of the frame they will be held in place by friction and may be additionally secured by dipping the entire frame and hooks in melted tin for plating the article.

The clasp 9 may receive price-cards or name-cards, a separate card being placed in each clasp; or, if desired, a strip of paper or card of alength long enough to extend around the frame may have its lower end inserted in said several clasps to hold it in place, while the inner surface of the strip bears against the outer surface of the upper frame B for holding said strip in a circular form corresponding to that of said frame. This strip of paper can be provided with any desired advertising matter-as, for instance, the name of the goods or the maker, &c. 1 also attach to the frame A a pull-chain 10, preferably in the form of a loop with its upper ends connected to said frame A; but said pull-chain may be attached directly to the upper frame instead of the lower one.

The goods or articles to be displayed for sale may be hung upon the frame A by the several hooks, either With or without price or advertising-card. The spring C will normally hold the goods out of theway at a height Within convenient reach. WVhen desired to remove any of the goods to show a customer or for any other purpose, the frame and goods may be drawn down by the pullchain, or by taking directly hold upon. the goods. Upon releasing the pull on the frame the spring will carry the parts to their normal position. In case the upper frame is not used to serve as a form about which to place an advertising-strip it may also have goods supported upon it in any proper manner, thereby enabling the salesman to display smaller and larger articles, if desired, upon the same rack. By providing the upper frame with hooks 1l,by which to connect it with the chains 6, it may be adjusted to different heights thereon, if desired. By making the upper frame adjustable it can be set to prop erly accommodate the smaller articles displayed on said upper frame. The larger the articles the farther should the upper frame be set from the lower one. So, also, if a wide or narrow strip for advertising should be used the upper frame maybe adjusted accordingly. By forming the frame A of a flat band and hooks 7 of wire clasped upon its upper edge the same may be cheaply formed and present a neat appearance.

The flat bands herein shown are formed of what is termed flat wire.

It is evident that many minor changes may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention. One frame, of course, might be made alittle larger than the other and the upper frame and general relation of the two frames and connected parts would be the same even if the detail of construction of said main frame was somewhat varied. It is also evident that the upper frame might, if de sired, be provided with clasps or hooks, or both.

I am aware that prior patents show a cardholder made of wire and attached to boxes, a display-rack for brooms, consisting of a Hat lower ring notched atits outer edge to receive the broom-heads, a smaller flat upper ring perforated to receive the broom-handles, and suspension-chains for supporting said rings in position one above the other, and dis play racks consisting of a frame provided with hooks and suspended by chains. All of said prior art is hereby disclaimed.

I claim as my invention- 1. The herein-described display-rack, consisting, essentially, of the continuous chains 6, the frame A, permanently secured to said chains and having a series of hooks, the upper frame B, and means for detaching said upper frame from and attaching it to said continuous chains at various heights, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

2. In a display-rack, the combination of the frame A, provided with a series of Vertical spring-clasps 9, the suspension-chains, and an upper frame secured to said chains at a point above said clasps and adapted to serve as a form for a strip of paper held Within said series of clasps, substantially as described.

EMIL ALTMAN. W itncsses:

F. H. ALLIS, JAMES SHEPARD. 

